USE OF DOMINION COAL

Southland Times, Issue 23715, 13 January 1939, Page 2

USE OF DOMINION COAL

MINE OWNERS TO CONFER WITH MINISTER (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, January 10. A conference of coal owners and of miners will be called in Wellington in the immediate future by the Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb) to discuss the Dominion’s coal supplies. “It has been my endeavour to see that New Zealand industries use New Zealand coal,” said Mr Webb in an interview explaining his reasons for calling the conference. “While the response of various gas companies has on the whole been good we have found that many works have only short supplies of New Zealand coal in stock. If we are to reduce the importation of coal from overseas to this country we must first be quite sure that an adequate supply of suitable coal for gasmaking can be made available in this country. The development in the use of electricity in homes and industry is assuming great proportions and it requires the utmost co-operation and coordination if the mining industry is to meet this competition.” An essential and first step to face competition was that industry should be able to ensure an adequate supply. This was needed especially in the gas industry. “Unfortunately much of o.ur coal is not suitable for gas-making but I am confident,” added Mr Webb, “that an ample supply of good gas-producing coal can be produced to enable us to meet all requirements.”